Blues claim point against Cherries
Pompey Academy fought from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at Bournemouth.
The hosts roared into a comfortable lead after the interval thanks to strikes from Matt Butcher and Sam Matthews.
But the Blues reduced the deficit with just 15 minutes to go when Adam May’s cross was flicked on for Brandon Haunstrup (pictured) to force home.
And they snatched an equaliser right at the death, with Harvey Bradbury controlling neatly before firing past Cherries keeper Jordan Holmes.
Academy manager Mark Kelly said: “We controlled the first half, but were just missing that spark in the final third.
“Bournemouth obviously got a ticking off at the break because they came roaring out of the traps from the restart and scored twice.
“We just stopped doing all the good things we had shown before the interval and the second goal we conceded was very sloppy on our part.
“I made a couple of changes and a few people moved into different positions and then we started to regain some control.
“Brandon got a goal back and we started to enjoy a period of sustained pressure before Harvey grabbed a deserved leveller.
“If the game had gone on for an extra five minutes then I think the lads might have gone on to secure all three points.
“The match was all part of the lads' learning curve because they let their concentration slip at the start of the second half and were punished for that.
“But we’ve had a difficult week with a lot of players off sick and so I was pleased with the character we displayed to fight back.”
Pompey: Collins; Rwakarambwe, Nilsen, Granger, Haunstrup; Widdrington, May, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Haitham (Scutt 72); Sayers (Bradbury 65), Gill